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Dog Fleas

What are fleas?

Fleas are a type of insect which are relatively small,
brown in colour, and survive on animals called their hosts. The fleas feed
by ingesting the hostís blood after injecting their mouths and saliva
through the skin. This is what irritates the affected hosts. Many affected
animals can prove to be allergic to the saliva of the flea. Fleas can be
carriers of many disease causing organisms. These diseases include the
plague, haemobartonellosis, typhus and tularaemia. The endo-parasite
tapeworm can also be transmitted by fleas. It is not unlikely for dogs to
have fleas more than once in their lives although this should be avoided.
Dogs which have a lot of contact with the outdoors and other dogs are prone
to being affected with these insects.

Both male and female fleas feed on blood although they
can survive for six months without a feed. During feeding, fleas inoculate
saliva into the blood of the host which is used to prevent the blood from
clotting and so the insect can continue to drink more easily. Flea eggs and
larvae can be present in large numbers both in indoor and outdoor
environments. Female fleas can lay as many as fifty eggs within a single
day. As a result, once a dog has fleas it can become increasingly infested
extremely rapidly. Fleas can jump relatively large distances in order to
pass from one area to another, for example onto a host.

Dog fleas do not generally use humans as their hosts
although it has been known for them to do so. Affected humans may notice
that their ankles or wrists have slight red rashes which can be a little
uncomfortable. Once the dog is treated, however, these reactions should
leave fairly quickly. Despite this, there is a type of flea which is known
as the human flea which can also affect dogs.

What fleas can dogs get?

Dogs can be affected by a large number of fleas many of
which may prefer other hosts but will still feed on dogs. This means that
dogs can become affected if they come into contact with all these other
possible hosts. Even house dogs can acquire feline fleas from any cats which
may be present in the home.

The common dog flea, also known as Ctenocephalides
canis, primarily affects dogs but uses other animals including humans
and cats as its hosts. It can very easily pass from one dog to another.
Additionally, one other type of flea includes the cat flea, called
Ctenocephalides felis, which prefers dogs as its host. Therefore, if
dogs come into regular contact with cats able to roam outside, then they are
susceptible to becoming affected by the cat flea.

Some fleas which have other preferable hosts will also
affect dogs. The rat flea is an example of this. It is also known as
Xenopsylla cheopsis and carries diseases such as the plague. The human
flea, called Pulex irritans, has been known to affect dogs as well as
the bird flea, scientifically named Echidnophaga gallinacea. Overall,
dogs can be at risk of fleas for a large part of their lives.

How do I know if my dog has fleas?

It is not uncommon for owners to never be aware of
their dogs having fleas. This is because in some cases, the fleas may not
appear to adversely affect the dog at all. Despite this, it is encouraged
that owners should groom their dogs in order to be able to detect whether or
not their pets have been infested. This is because, although the dog may
seem healthy, the flea may pass on certain harmful diseases.

If owners run a hand or comb through a dogís fur they
may notice dark dirt. This is flea faeces and if applied on damp paper, the
faeces will redden and swirl. Additionally, owners may even spot the fleas
which appear as tiny, black, jumping insects. Some dogs experience allergic
reactions to flea saliva and thus have rashes or lose their fur. In dogs,
fleas commonly cause Flea Allergic Dermatitis which is an extremely
uncomfortable skin condition. They will persistently scratch and may appear
restless. In cases of high infestation, the animals lose enough blood to
become anaemic. In some cases, for smaller dogs and puppies this may lead to
death although this is a rare occurrence.

What do I do if my dog has fleas?

The majority of good flea treatments can be very easily
acquired from veterinary practices. Internet or cheap store bought products
are not guaranteed to be as successful as those bought from the vets. If the
treatments are not effective then not only will this prolong the problem but
also prove to be more expensive when more and more products are bought.

For the flea treatment to be effective, all other
sources of infestation should also be treated. This includes other animals
in the household such as cats. There are sprays available at veterinary
practices which can be used on upholstery and carpets in order to destroy
the fleas and their eggs which will be present here. If these are not
treated then re-infection is able to reoccur easily. This is because fleas
are able to survive outside of the hosts for many months.

Can I prevent my dog from having fleas?

Preventing fleas in dogs can reduce the stress caused
from their infestations. This is especially true for dogs that have severe
allergic reactions to the flea saliva. Spot on treatments can be used
periodically throughout the year and many are combined to prevent and treat
dogs for worms as well. If one animal has fleas then all susceptible animals
should be treated in the household to prevent transmission.

Can my dog die from getting fleas?

Often dogs affected with fleas will not die as a result
of the infestation. However, due to the diseases they can cause after
inoculating their hosts, this can in turn prove to be very harmful to the
dog, and perhaps even be fatal if left untreated. In addition to this, young
puppies and small dogs can die from anaemia if they are infested by very
large numbers of fleas.

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